Continuing with our Motor Sport updates as the season comes to a gruelling end for both our Race and Rally teams, we spoke with Mini Miglia driver, Dave Drew who faces the final Miglia round of the season at the prestigious Silverstone International Circuit on the 19th and 20th of September – fighting with contending Miglia driver, Rupert Deeth for the sought-after Vice Champion position.
Follow Dave’s report of the previous round at Oulton Park as we prepare for this exciting finale.
Qualifying
We set off for qualifying and instantly was right on the pace posting times for the front 2 rows of the grid, however we were experiencing too much wheel spin out of the slow corners, which we couldn’t dial out in time due to only a 15 minute slot and just under a 2 minute lap giving us 6 laps to qualify.
We eventually were 5th fastest for Race 1 Grid and 4th for Race 2 Grid.
Race 1
We got a good start and instantly made places putting us 3rd for the first lap, and the pace was immense for majority of the race with involved battles with Mark Cowan, Rupert Deeth and Rob Howard, but our individual attacking and defending did result in Kane Astin and Aaron Smith to pull away slightly, but the battle or 3rd was right to the wire with us eventually finishing 5th overall.
Whilst we were waiting in the collection area for post-race checks on the cars, all of a sudden our car was engulfed in fire under the bonnet which was a mad panic trying to extinguish it, but thankfully the on-board fire system and Kane Astin grabbing a further extinguisher managed to get it put out, but lots of damage was done which feared us not making Race 2, however locating the source of the fire and a massive tidy and clean up plus a visit to the circuit shop to buy another charged system for the car and re-present to the scrutineer to be allowed to race again.
Race 2
Starting from outside of row 2 we again got a great start and immediately was battling for track position with Rupert Deeth, and like race 1 a great battle commenced between the front 7 Miglia’s, however on lap 6, Smith tried to pass Astin round the outside line and spun causing Deeth to hit the wall and all of us flying off in different directions in avoidance. After passing the mayhem we were now running 2nd behind Astin, but the Safety Car was deployed to clear the circuit and debris from the accident. The safety car pulled in giving us a single lap dash to the flag.
Astin tried to get the jump but I Knew exactly what he was going to do and as we started the last lap I managed to get alongside Astin into turn 1, and we were neck and neck for the lead dropping down the Hill in to turn 3, but Astin went wide onto the marbles and got well out of shape which I had no choice but to back out as we were both going to crash, but thankfully he gathered it up with the space I allowed him and we went across the line together to finish P2 and another podium.
Astin secured the Championship with his win leaving Dave and Rupert in a tie – with all to play at Silverstone on the 19th September we’re backing Dave all the way in the exciting Mini Miglia Championship!
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